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Painless mulesing almost here
9 Sep 2008
Two painless injectable solutions to the mulesing issue are currently close to being commercialised. The two new methods could help the wool industry meet its pledge to animal rights campaigners to end surgical mulesing by 2010. The chairman of Australian Wool Innovation, Brian van Rooyen, said yesterday the chemicals were "promising the area treated sufficiently enlarges the bare breech area". "One is a gel that when injected forms a barrier between the sheep''s skin and its flesh leading to that patch of skin contracting and an overall tightening of the breech area without an open wound. The second chemical forms an internal suture which leads to skin being painlessly removed without an open wound. "To date the only alternative to cutting the sheep''s skin have been clips – which also cause pain to the animal. Animal Rights Group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says other genetic and husbandry alternatives to surgical mulesing already exist.
Sydney Morning Herald, 09/09/2008
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